Union rejects health-care proposal from NFL

NEW YORK (AP) — The players union has rejected a proposal from the NFL on long-term care for former players, saying the supplemental policy would exclude too many of them.

Miki Yara-Davis, senior director of benefits for the NFLPA, said today that the union sent a letter to the league Wednesday rebuffing the proposal that was presented during negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Yara-Davis said too many former players aged 50-75 would not pass a screening by TransAmerica, the insurance company that would underwrite the plan, because those players have pre-existing conditions from playing football.

"Let's not have a select few covered," she said. "It is our belief the company will reject them ... and a significant number of seemingly healthy players will not be covered."

The NFL said the policy would be available to 2,500 of 3,200 eligible players and their spouses.